THE GOLF IS OPTIONAL, THE MIRTH IS REQUIRED! The only blog detailing PSU Track and Field, (not always great!) Golf, Physics topics and great videos at the same time! An eclectic mish-mash (mess) of just about everything imaginable. Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfers have honored PSU Track/XC, Coach Harry Groves and abused golf courses throughout Happy Valley since 2002. Help spread the word!

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"Friendship, physics, and philosophy---this blog has it all."

-Anonymous, 2011.

"I enjoy what you are doing with this blog. It is truly the only reason to have a Facebook account."-Darryl Jones.

"Light yourself on fire and then roll in broken glass to put out the fire!"-from Isaiah Harris's Twitter Feed, explaining how to replicate the feeling after an 800M race."Even pit bulls call him Coach."-Brian Mount, reacting to a visit to Coach Groves from Hunter Backenstose's pit bull, Blanche.

"Keep up the great work."-Nick Scarpello, after winning the 2016 Carlsbad 5K.

"Goodbye to all that. (Politics) I am turning into Jeremiah Johnson, a shunner."-Rob Whiteside, walking the Appalachian Trail.

"I'd rather see you laying in a gutter with your head split open than to see you run like that." -Coach Groves, following a poor showing of 800M runners at a Beaver Stadium Meet, late 70's.

"You do a fantastic job."-Phil Caraher.

"You are amazing at blogging."-Walt Chadwick.

"Best blog out there."-Phil Passen.

"...it tops all sites I've seen with its sense of humor."-George Brose, author of the website Once Upon a Time in the Vest, about our humble blog.

"Great post as usual DFB!"-Darryl Jones.

"You just don't f*** with a f*****."-sage advice from Coach Groves, as told to Tim Backenstose and me, 5/17/14.

"When I was a kid, I saw an illegal dice game in the bathroom at Franklin Field."-Matthew Groves, 2013, remembering the Penn Relays Carnival.

"Don't sit next to Balkey and Artie at a track meet...You'll end up talking about hockey for 3 hours."-Coach Groves to Rebecca Donaghue, 2013.

"The first 45 mile week I ever ran, I ran in the first 3 days at PSU- Thank you very much, Bruce Baden!"-Larry Mangan, 2012.

"If it takes longer than a paragraph, you don't have anything to say anyway."-Coach Grovesat the 2012 Track Alumni Dinner"If you can't get excited for The Penn Relays than damn it, you aint got no soul!"-Coach Groves, as reported by Matt Lincoln at the 2012 Penn Relays.

"Athletics is for education and recreation, nothing else. Winning is important only in that you learn more."-Coach Harry Groves, 5/21/2011 at the Alumni "Run"."... for a brief time, I'm the greatest Track Coach in the world."-Coach Harry Groves, at his Retirement 2006.

"You must do something about the cheating!"-Coach Harry Groves, after golfing two holes with each foursome in 2009.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Not me. I'm still a lowly regarded employee at my own business. But I'm really better at it than I am at golf...

Ryan Foster and Jess Riden (both Officers of our group!) have been promoted in the Track World.

Ryan Foster was named Assistant Coach at Tennessee, joining former Coach Alford-Sullivan at Rocky Top. He takes his numerous Coach of the Year honors at Division II Edinboro and his wonderful wife Kara Millhouse south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Our Tennessee friend and All-American, Patrick Davey is delighted. He also joins Assistant Coach Steve Waithe. The Orange is starting to get a little more Blue, isn't it?

Saturday, May 26, 2018

One of FounderClark Haley's original rules for the Coach Groves Golf Tournament was the random draw of foursomes on the Friday night before the tourney.

This ensures that most of us will meet new members of our community every year. It also ensures that we will then realize the things we all have in common as well as learn the wonderful differences we all have. There's nothing like golfing with a member of a 1950s National title team one year and a graduate from last year the next!

And our best-ball format means that literally anyone can participate AND contribute to the foursome. No one knows this better than 2-time winners like Brian Boyer and now ME!

Nearly every year we talk a non-golfer to play with us. This year we persuaded Dick Geiger to jump into the tourney. Well, maybe it took a few drinks Friday night in addition!

It turns out that Dick has some interesting credentials to solidify him as solid Officer of our group.

Dick related a story from 1960-something detailing a running shoe and jocks only distance run forced upon the Freshman. (Greg Fredericks denies all knowledge of this.) The Yanomamo from the late 70-something years must admit reverence for their elders on this point! We know that this story is true, as it was one of the first times the fledgling new Coach, Harry Groves got in trouble with the higher-ups. This signaled the first of many Wednesday morning chewing-outs for Coach Groves during his 38 year tenure.

Dick was a State Champion team member of York County's Spring Grove Cross Country team which also included a friend of mine David Mosebrook, an avid track/cross country fan who ran for Coach Dolan at Lock Haven following the State Championship. And that is the very same Coach Dolan that headed up the Freshman team of Greg Fredericks before heading to Lock Haven! It is no wonder that Lock Haven and Penn State have a close team friendship reflected in the Dolan Duels every year.

It turns out that Dick was the very first of hundreds of Coach Groves walk-ons, a group that includes me and many of my readers. Coach Groves may be the finest coach of walk-ons to ever coach in the college ranks. I thank him every day for the opportunity he granted me all those years ago.

We should also thank Dick for the generous donation to our efforts to fund the Coach Groves Scholarship. His substantial bequeath was the one that put us over-the-top to actually fully fund the tuition scholarship in Coach's name. Donations will continue to fully fund the scholarship to include tuition and room and board awards.

Thus, Dick has been awarded the Officer Status of Walk-On Progenitor Excelsior.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

FounderClark Haley was triumphant in both the Friday night Hotel and the Saturday Golf Course putting contest. And he donated all of his winnings back to the total that will be given to the PSU Track Program!

Clark lines up the 50-footer that he then sunk! Photo by Digital Archive goddess Kay Warfel.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Honestly, my foursome played well enough to come in 4th in our tourney of 6 foursomes. I contributed little to the effort on a rather tough day to golf. The foursomes picked at the Friday night reception were as evenly matched as any have ever been in our 17 year history.

But somehow, the gods shined down upon the struggling foursome of Steve Brown, Steve Brown Jr., Brian Laird and me, making us the Champions of the 2018 Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament. At (-1) for the tourney, it is one of the worst winning scores we have had.

Unfortunately, I had to leave early and didn't get to make it to the Awards Dinner and Clark Haley Comedy Show, but I will pass along the rest of the results when I can.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Our Official Physicist Brian Boyer, originally thought he would be with us again this weekend, possibly earning his third golf title. And he may be the only person I would be comfortable calling a worse golfer than I. But he has 2 titles and I have only 1, despite being in every single tourney so far!

Although Brian can't be with us this weekend, he still brings the noise from far away, exotic Austria.

Brian represented the IAEA quite well at a recent competition wearing his Alumni Singlet!

People are already on their way to the 17th Annual Penn State Track and Field Alumni Reunion by plane, train and automobile. And despite the forecast, our golf tourney has had a run of 16 straight years without cancellation.

Clark Haley and I are already en route...

And you can, of course, still join us. The more, the merrier! And this year we are downtown for the first time.

Saturday, May 12, 2018

The first Big Ten Outdoor title of the year goes to Sophomore Michael Biddle in the javelin.

After a strong start to the season (after playing Freshman second fiddle to an NCAA 2nd place finisher last year), Michael came through with a big PR in the final throws of the Big Ten Championship. His toss of 239 feet 7 inches was a PR by several feet. In addition, there were fifth and and eighth place finishes for the Lions by Matt Nawrocki and Mark Porter, totaling a big 15 points, helping the Men to second place after the first day's complete scoring.

Picking of the foursomes, 50-50, Putting contest, other craziness will also take placeMad Mex is located right next to the reception hall making it convenient for Margarita nightcaps.

SATURDAY (MAY 19th) EVENTS:9:00am – 10:30am The Alumni "run" will take place starting at the outdoor track for anyone interested in a short jog or a loop around campus (accompanied by coffee and donuts for those who don’t run!).12:00pm – 5:30pm The Golf outing will be held at the Mountain View Country Club(old Elks Club) again this year with the putting contest taking place at 11:15. If you need clubs, there are always folks bringing extra sets so you don’t have to worry about renting (be sure to let us know when you register so we can plan to have them there).

1:00pm – 3:00pm Activities for those not golfing. Depending upon weather and volunteers, we usually have a group gathering to hike Mt. Nittany or take a campus tour (either to the Creamery or the Sports Museum (may be an additional cost). Meeting spot(s) and tour guide(s) to be announced – leaving from the hotel lobby.

Some of the present team members will be in town and possibly at the morning run at the track. Some may join us at the evening reception (awaiting confirmation from the Coaches)

7:00pm – 11pmDinner reception and awards ceremony for golf outing

Will the change of venue and its proximity to campus, the fees had to increase this year to $200 for those attending the outing and both receptions – add a significant other (or another family member) $300 (if not planning to golf $250). More Immediate family members than that, add $100 if golfing, $50 if not (children $25). Friday and Saturday receptions without golf $130, add significant other $175, add additional $50 for each additional immediate family member ($25 for children). Friday night reception only - $40 add significant other $75 – add $25 for additional immediate family members. Saturday only reception $100 add significant other $150 – any additional immediate family member $50. Saturday reception with golf included $150 – add a significant other $250 if golfing ($200 if not) – additional immediate family members $75 if golfing, $50 if not. If you have graduated in the past three years, dump 20% of the tab. (Who knew so much math was required?)

This event is open to men, women, and friends of PSU alumni - the more the merrier! This is all about the laughs and brother/sisterhood, not scores, and you’ll have three other hackers on your team to laugh at so don’t worry about how bad your game may be!

PayPal and credit card options this year on the Blog or Facebook page as a matter of convenience.(I know, about time, right!) – if utilizing PayPal another $5 will be addedto your total to defer the charge.If you should have any other questions or comments, please let me know – Hope to see you this year!

Monday, May 7, 2018

Thanks to Ken Brinker for forwarding what Father Matt Chadwick has been up to lately!

In the footsteps of the saints

By Mags Ivatts

Mass being celebrated at the tomb of St Francis in Assisi

Recently a group from the Catholic church in Rye, St Anthony of Padua, set out on a pilgrimage. There is usually something romantic associated with a journey described as a pilgrimage. Such journeys are so very ancient and always to a spiritual destination.

Historically a pilgrimage would be associated with physical hardships or the challenge of difficult terrain but, for the group of Catholics setting out from Rye to Rome at 5:15am, it was the early morning time of the flight from Gatwick that presented the biggest challenge. There were 16 in our group led by our parish priest Father Matthew Chadwick OFM Conv.

Being a small parish and having a small church, many of us do not meet each other during the course of normal worship and mass attendance, so it was particularly enjoyable to be able to travel together. Our group was a mixture of people, some new to Rye and others who have been attending St Anthony’s for many decades.

We all felt eager anticipation to visit Assisi, most especially the great Basilica of St Francis, consecrated in 1253. This was especially the case for our parish priest who is a Franciscan friar from America. On arrival in Rome we all transferred to a coach to Assisi and arrived in time to for a short visit to the Basilica before dinner.

It is apparent from first glance that the Basilica of St Francis is an extraordinary showcase of paintings. In fact it contains the most complete mural decoration of the 13th and 14th century to be found in Italy. The following day we all thoroughly enjoyed a tour of the Basilica, a particular highlight being Father Matthew celebrating Mass at the site of the tomb of St Francis. We visited St Francis’ house, and the sites around Assisi closely associated with the life of St Francis and St Clare and the beginning of the Franciscan movement.

We then transferred to Padua by coach where our hotel was directly opposite the Basilica of St Anthony, the famous Franciscan saint after whom our parish church is named. Padua is a beautiful medieval town and includes the celebrated Capella degli Scrovengi, chapel decorated with some of the finest frescos by Giotto.

It was extraordinary and mind-boggling to realise that this small, beautiful chapel with its vibrant bright colours was being decorated at the same time as Dante wrote the Inferno.

Our six-day trip came to an end too quickly and too soon we were all back on the plane to Gatwick and on our way home to Rye. It was in many ways a refreshing trip, to be in the company of like-minded others, and to be able to discuss faith and spirituality openly is a rare experience these days.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

It isn't like it used to be. When young Freshman dweebs like me longed to get our first real good look at the naked frame of a member of the opposite sex. Nowadays, people are prosecuted as sex offenders for the "innocence" that once was "funny" to most.

But the legacy lives on, and I honor the alpha male who started the tradition...